EP4172140A1 - Cyclobutyl-urea derivatives - Google Patents

Cyclobutyl-urea derivatives

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Publication number
EP4172140A1
EP4172140A1 EP21734848.1A EP21734848A EP4172140A1 EP 4172140 A1 EP4172140 A1 EP 4172140A1 EP 21734848 A EP21734848 A EP 21734848A EP 4172140 A1 EP4172140 A1 EP 4172140A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
urea
trifluoromethyl
bicyclo
pent
difluoromethyl
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21734848.1A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Olivier Bezencon
Caroline DEYMIER
Jens-Uwe Peters
Romain Siegrist
Jean-Philippe Surivet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Original Assignee
Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd filed Critical Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd
Publication of EP4172140A1 publication Critical patent/EP4172140A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
    • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
    • A61P25/08—Antiepileptics; Anticonvulsants
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07C275/00—Derivatives of urea, i.e. compounds containing any of the groups, the nitrogen atoms not being part of nitro or nitroso groups
    • C07C275/26—Derivatives of urea, i.e. compounds containing any of the groups, the nitrogen atoms not being part of nitro or nitroso groups having nitrogen atoms of urea groups bound to carbon atoms of rings other than six-membered aromatic rings
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D213/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members
    • C07D213/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members
    • C07D213/04—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having no bond between the ring nitrogen atom and a non-ring member or having only hydrogen or carbon atoms directly attached to the ring nitrogen atom
    • C07D213/24—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having no bond between the ring nitrogen atom and a non-ring member or having only hydrogen or carbon atoms directly attached to the ring nitrogen atom with substituted hydrocarbon radicals attached to ring carbon atoms
    • C07D213/36—Radicals substituted by singly-bound nitrogen atoms
    • C07D213/40—Acylated substituent nitrogen atom
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D213/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members
    • C07D213/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members
    • C07D213/04—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having no bond between the ring nitrogen atom and a non-ring member or having only hydrogen or carbon atoms directly attached to the ring nitrogen atom
    • C07D213/60—Heterocyclic compounds containing six-membered rings, not condensed with other rings, with one nitrogen atom as the only ring hetero atom and three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having three double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members having no bond between the ring nitrogen atom and a non-ring member or having only hydrogen or carbon atoms directly attached to the ring nitrogen atom with hetero atoms or with carbon atoms having three bonds to hetero atoms with at the most one bond to halogen, e.g. ester or nitrile radicals, directly attached to ring carbon atoms
    • C07D213/62—Oxygen or sulfur atoms
    • C07D213/63—One oxygen atom
    • C07D213/64—One oxygen atom attached in position 2 or 6
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D239/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-diazine or hydrogenated 1,3-diazine rings
    • C07D239/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-diazine or hydrogenated 1,3-diazine rings not condensed with other rings
    • C07D239/24—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-diazine or hydrogenated 1,3-diazine rings not condensed with other rings having three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members
    • C07D239/26—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-diazine or hydrogenated 1,3-diazine rings not condensed with other rings having three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members with only hydrogen atoms, hydrocarbon or substituted hydrocarbon radicals, directly attached to ring carbon atoms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D239/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-diazine or hydrogenated 1,3-diazine rings
    • C07D239/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-diazine or hydrogenated 1,3-diazine rings not condensed with other rings
    • C07D239/24—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-diazine or hydrogenated 1,3-diazine rings not condensed with other rings having three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members
    • C07D239/28—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-diazine or hydrogenated 1,3-diazine rings not condensed with other rings having three or more double bonds between ring members or between ring members and non-ring members with hetero atoms or with carbon atoms having three bonds to hetero atoms with at the most one bond to halogen, directly attached to ring carbon atoms
    • C07D239/32—One oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen atom
    • C07D239/34—One oxygen atom
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07C2601/00—Systems containing only non-condensed rings
    • C07C2601/04—Systems containing only non-condensed rings with a four-membered ring

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to cyclobutyl-urea derivatives of Formula (I), and their use as pharmaceuticals.
  • the invention also concerns related aspects including processes for the preparation of the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more compounds of Formula (I), and especially their use as Kv7 potassium channel openers.
  • K V channels are composed of tetramers of ⁇ -subunits. Each ⁇ -subunit consists of six transmembrane ⁇ -helical structures (S1–S6), with an intracellular localization of both the NH 2 and COOH termini.
  • the regions S1–S4 constitute the voltage-sensing domain, whereas the S5 and S6 regions and their linker form the ion-selective pore.
  • K V 7 family comprises five ⁇ -subunit K V 7.1-5, encoded by the genes KCNQ1-5. These ⁇ -subunits are arranged as homotetramers (K V 7.1, K V 7.2, or K V 7.4) or heterotetramers (K V 7.2/3, K V 7.3/5, or K V 7.4/5).
  • K V 7.1 is mainly localized in cardiomyocytes, gastrointestinal epithelium, skeletal muscles, vascular and non-vascular smooth muscles and the inner ear. In cardiomyocytes, they slowly activate I KS current which plays a central role in ventricular repolarization.
  • Kv7.2 – Kv7.5 are widely expressed in neuronal tissue with K V 7.2 and K V 7.3 playing a dominant role and found as Kv7.2 homotetramer or Kv7.2/7.3 and Kv7.3/7.5 heterotetramers. They underlie the M-current, which stabilizes the resting membrane potential and reduces action potential firing.
  • Kv7.4 is expressed in outer hair cells, in neurons of the central auditory pathway nuclei, and in dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area.
  • Kv7.4 and Kv7.5 are both also widely expressed in visceral, vascular and airway smooth muscle, skeletal muscle as Kv7.4 homotetramer or Kv7.4/7.5 heterotetramer.
  • Kv7.5 is only found in heterotetramers, as discussed previously (Miceli et al. Curr. Med. Chem., 2018, 25, 2637-2660; Jones et al. Handb Exp Pharmacol.2021). Activation of the K V 7 channels occurs at potential around -60 mV and results in potassium efflux and membrane hyperpolarization. Dysfunctions or mutations in the K V 7 channels can result physiologically in various channelopathies (C. Bock, A. Link, Future Med. Chem. 2019, 11, 337-355). The neuronal K V 7 channels are responsible for the M-current which regulates neuronal excitability.
  • K V 7 openers might be a potential therapy in diseases where enhanced neuronal excitability is a significant aspect of the pathology (Maljevic et al, J. Physiol. 2008, 586(7), 1791-1801; Maljevic et al, Pflugers Arch. 2010, 460(2), 277-88; Jones et al. Handb Exp Pharmacol.2021), such as epilepsy (Diao et al, 2017, Neuropsychiatry 7(1): 26-31), myokymia (Dedek, Kunath et al.
  • psychiatric disorders such as anxiety (Costi et al.2021, Am J Psychiatry 187(5): 437-446; Hansen et al. 2008, J Physiol 586(7): 1823-32; Kang et al 2017, Neuropsychopharmacology 942(9): 1813-1824; Tan et al.2020, Mol Psychiatry 25(6): 1323-1333), schizophrenia (Hansen et al. 2008, J Physiol 586(7): 1823-32), depression (Costi et al. 2021, Am J Psychiatry 187(5): 437-446; Friedman et al.
  • Alzheimer’s disease Fenandez-Perez et al.2020, Sci Rep 10(1): 19606; Ghatak et al.2019, Elife 8; Otto et al. 2004, Neurology 62(5): 714-8
  • Parkinson’s disease Choen et al.2018, Neurosci Bull 34(2): 341-348; Sander et al 2012, Neuropharmacology 62(2): 1052-61
  • Huntington’s disease Burgold et al.
  • K V 7 openers might be also useful in diseases affecting the visceral smooth muscles such as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome and overactive bladder, in diseases affecting the vascular smooth muscles such as hypertension and cerebral vasospasm, in diseases affecting the airway smooth muscles such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in hearing disorder and deafness (Haick and Byron 2016, Pharmacol Ther 165: 14-25; Fosmo and Skraastad 2017, Front Cardiovasc Med 4: 75; Xia et al.2020. Hear Res 388: 107884).
  • diseases affecting the visceral smooth muscles such as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome and overactive bladder
  • diseases affecting the vascular smooth muscles such as hypertension and cerebral vasospasm
  • diseases affecting the airway smooth muscles such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in hearing disorder and deafness
  • K V 7 openers might be a potential therapy in disorders associated with KCNQ2, KCNQ3, KCNQ4, KCNQ5 and disorders associated with mutations in KCNQ2, KCNQ3, KCNQ4, KCNQ5 (Dedek, Kunath et al. 2001, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98(21): 12272- 12277; Wuttke, Jurkat-Rott et al.2007, Neurology 69(22): 2045-2053; Millichap, Park et al. 2016, Neurol Genet 2(5): e96; Allen et al 2020, Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2020;24:105-116; Xia et al.2020.
  • K V 7 openers are suitable antiepileptics drugs, as demonstrated with the FDA-approved drug retigabine/ezogabine.
  • Retigabine/ezogabine activates the potassium current of the different Kv7 channels by binding near the channel gate leading to a stabilization of the channel open state and to a shift of the voltage-dependence of KCNQ activation to more hyperpolarized potentials (Gunthorpe, Large et al.2012, Epilepsia 53(3): 412-424).
  • Retigabine/ezogabine reduces seizure activity in various rodent models including acute seizure models, genetic models of enhanced seizure sensitivity such as the audiogenic seizure-sensitive DBA2 mice showing generalized tonic-clonic seizures and models of induced epilepsy such as the rat kindling model presenting with focal onset seizures that propagate to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (Rostock et al.1996, Epilepsy Res 23(3): 211-223; Tober et al.1996, Eur J Pharmacol 303(3): 163-169; De Sarro G, Di Paola EG et al. 2001, Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol 363: 330–336).
  • Knock-in mice carrying a KCNQ2 or KCNQ3 variant known to cause reduction of the wild-type potassium current and identified in patients diagnosed with an early onset epileptic syndromes show spontaneous seizures, reduced seizure thresholds, and seizures that are attenuated by retigabine/ezogabine (Singh, Otto et al.2008, J Physiol 586(14): 3405-3423; Otto, Singh et al. 2009, Epilepsia 50(7): 1752-1759; Tomonoh, Deshimaru et al. 2014, PLoS One 9(2): e88549; Ihara, Tomonoh et al.
  • K V 7 opener might be a potential therapy in epilepsy including epilepsy with focal onset seizures with or without impaired awareness, with focal onset seizures with motor or nonmotor onset symptoms and with or without focal seizures that develop into bilateral tonic-clonic seizures.
  • K V 7 opener might be a potential therapy in epilepsy with generalized seizures with motor onset symptoms, as well as epilepsy with unknown seizure onset or epilepsy with traumatic brain injury-induced seizures (Diao et al, 2017, Neuropsychiatry 7(1): 26-31; Vigil, Bozdemir et al.2019, J Cereb Blood Flow Metab: 271678X19857818).
  • K V 7 opener might be a potential therapy in neonatal onset epilepsy with or without neurodevelopmental impairment including early onset epileptic encephalopathy such as Othahara syndrome or early infantile epileptic encephalopathy, early myoclonic encephalopathy and epilepsy with suppression-burst pattern, but also including benign or self-limiting familial neonatal epilepsy (Singh, Westenskow et al. 2003, Brain 126(Pt 12): 2726-2737; Weckhuysen, Mandelstam et al.2012, Ann Neurol 71(1): 15-25; Olson, Kelly et al. 2017, Ann Neurol 81(3): 419-429; Milh, Roubertoux et al.
  • K V 7 opener might be a potential therapy in infantile/childhood epilepsy syndromes including epilepsy with neurodevelopmental impairment, focal epilepsies of childhood and idiopathic epilepsy syndromes (Neubauer et al. 2008, Neurology 71(3): 177-83;, Kato et al. 2013, Epilepsia 54(7): 1282-7; Lesca and Depienne 2015, Rev Neurol (Paris) 171(6-7): 539-57; Heyne et al.2018, Nat Genet 50(7): 1048-53; Lindy et al.2018, Epilepsia 59(5): 1062-71).
  • WO2019/161877 discloses alcohol derivatives which activate the K V 7 potassium channels and are claimed to treat disorders responsive to the activation of K V 7 potassium channels.
  • Different cyclic amides, acetamides and ureas which are useful as potassium channel openers, have been disclosed in EP3366683A1 and WO2018/158256 and pentacyclothienyl and indanyl urea derivatives in EP3567034A1.
  • WO 2020/163268 discloses pyridine-4-yl-methyl urea derivatives as Kv7 potentiators.
  • new cyclobutyl-urea derivatives were identified, which were found to act pharmacologically as K V 7 opener and which may be useful for the treatment of diseases which are modulated by the KCNQ potassium channels.
  • the present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) wherein X 1 represents nitrogen or CR X1 ; wherein R X1 represents hydrogen, halogen (especially fluoro), (C 1-4 )alkyl, or (C 1-4 )alkoxy; X 2 represents nitrogen or CR X2 ; wherein R X2 represents hydrogen, halogen, (C 1-4 )alkyl, or (C 1-4 )alkoxy; X 3 represents nitrogen or CR X3 ; wherein R X3 represents hydrogen, halogen, (C 1-4 )alkyl, (C 1- 4 )alkoxy, or hydroxy; R 1 represents hydrogen or methyl; R X4 represents hydrogen, halogen (especially fluoro), or (C 1-4 )alkyl (especially methyl); • R 2A represents hydrogen; (C1-4)alkyl; (C2-4)alkenyl; (C2-4)alkynyl; (C3-6)cycloalkyl; (C
  • Definitions provided herein are intended to apply uniformly to the compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) as defined in any one of embodiments 1) to 40), and, mutatis mutandis, throughout the description and the claims unless an otherwise expressly set out definition provides a broader or narrower definition. It is well understood that a definition or preferred definition of a term defines and may replace the respective term independently of (and in combination with) any definition or preferred definition of any or all other terms as defined herein.
  • the compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) as defined in any one of embodiments 1) to 40) may contain one or more stereogenic or asymmetric centers, such as one or more asymmetric carbon atoms.
  • the compounds of Formula (I) may thus be present as mixtures of stereoisomers or in stereoisomerically enriched form, preferably as pure stereoisomers. Mixtures of stereoisomers may be separated in a manner known to a person skilled in the art.
  • the term "enriched”, for example when used in the context of enantiomers, is understood in the context of the present invention to mean especially that the respective enantiomer is present in a ratio (mutatis mutandis: purity) of at least 70:30, and notably of at least 90:10 (mutatis mutandis: purity of 70% / 90%) with respect to the respective other enantiomer.
  • the term refers to the respective essentially pure enantiomer.
  • the term “essentially”, for example when used in a term such as “essentially pure” is understood in the context of the present invention to mean especially that the respective stereoisomer / composition / compound etc. consists in an amount of at least 90, especially of at least 95, and notably of at least 99 per cent by weight of the respective pure stereoisomer / composition / compound etc.
  • a substituent is denoted as optional, it is understood that such substituent may be absent (i.e.
  • the respective residue is unsubstituted with regard to such optional substituent), in which case all positions having a free valency (to which such optional substituent could have been attached to; such as for example in an aromatic ring the ring carbon atoms and / or the ring nitrogen atoms having a free valency) are substituted with hydrogen where appropriate.
  • the term “optionally” is used in the context of (ring) heteroatom(s), the term means that either the respective optional heteroatom(s), or the like, are absent (i.e. a certain moiety does not contain heteroatom(s) / is a carbocycle / or the like), or the respective optional heteroatom(s), or the like, are present as explicitly defined.
  • a dotted line shows the point of attachment of the radical drawn.
  • the radical is a 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl group.
  • halogen means fluorine, chlorine, or bromine, preferably fluorine or chlorine.
  • R X1 , R X2 or R X3 represents halogen the term means preferably a fluoro- or chloro- substituent, and more preferably a fluoro-substituent.
  • R X4 representing halogen
  • alkyl used alone or in combination, refers to a straight or branched saturated hydrocarbon chain containing one to four carbon atoms.
  • (C x-y )alkyl refers to an alkyl group as defined before containing x to y carbon atoms.
  • a (C 1-4 )alkyl group contains from one to four carbon atoms.
  • Representative examples of (C 1-4 )alkyl groups are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec.- butyl and tert.-butyl; preferred is methyl.
  • R X1 , R X2 , R X3 , R X4 , R 2A , R 4 , or R 6 represents "(C 1-4 )alkyl” the term means preferably methyl.
  • R L represents "(C 1-4 )alkyl” the term means preferably methyl.
  • a "(C 1-4 )alkyl” is a substituent to a “5-membered heteroaryl group containing one to four nitrogen atoms”, the term means preferably methyl.
  • alkoxy used alone or in combination, refers to an alkyl-O- group wherein the alkyl group is as defined before.
  • (Cx-y)alkoxy refers to an alkoxy group as defined before containing x to y carbon atoms.
  • a (C 1-4 )alkoxy group means a group of the formula (C 1-4 )alkyl-O- in which the term "(C 1-4 )alkyl” has the previously given significance.
  • Representative examples of (C 1-4 )alkoxy groups are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, iso-propoxy, n-butoxy, iso-butoxy, sec.-butoxy and tert.-butoxy.
  • R X1 , R X2 , or R X3 represents "(C 1-4 )alkoxy” the term means preferably methoxy.
  • the term "(C xa-ya )alkoxy-(C x-y )alkyl" (x, xa, y and ya each being an integer) refers to an alkyl group as defined before wherein one hydrogen atom has been replaced by (C xa-ya )alkoxy as defined before containing xa to ya carbon atoms.
  • R 2A represents "(C 1-4 )alkoxy-(C 1- 2 )alkyl” the term means preferably methoxymethyl.
  • (C xa-ya )alkoxy-(C x-y )alkoxy refers to an alkoxy group as defined before containing x to y carbon atoms wherein one hydrogen atom has been replaced with (C xa-ya )alkoxy as defined before containing xa to ya carbon atoms.
  • a "(C 1-2 )alkoxy-(C 1-2 )alkoxy group” refers to an (C 1-2 )alkoxy group as defined before containing one or two carbon atoms wherein one hydrogen atom has been replaced with (C 1-2 )alkoxy as defined before containing one or two carbon atoms. It is preferred that the oxygen-atom of the (C x-y )alkoxy group and the oxygen atom of the (C xa-ya )alkoxy group are attached to different carbon-atoms of the (C x-y )alkoxy group.
  • (C 1-2 )alkoxy-(C 1-2 )alkoxy groups include methoxy-methoxy, 2-methoxy-ethoxy, ethoxy- methoxy, and 2-ethoxy-ethoxy.
  • the term "(C xa-ya )alkoxy-(C xb-yb )alkoxy-(C x-y )alkyl" (x, xa, xb, y, ya and yb each being an integer) refers to an alkyl group as defined before wherein one hydrogen atom has been replaced by (C xa-ya )alkoxy-(C xb-yb )alkoxy as defined before.
  • R 2A represents “(C 1- 2)alkoxy-(C1-2)alkoxy-(C1-2)alkyl” the term means preferably 2-methoxy-ethoxy-methyl.
  • (C 1-4 )fluoroalkyl refers to an alkyl group as defined before containing one to four carbon atoms in which one or more (and possibly all) hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine.
  • (C x-y )fluoroalkyl (x and y each being an integer) refers to a fluoroalkyl group as defined before containing x to y carbon atoms.
  • a (C 1- 4 )fluoroalkyl group contains from one to four carbon atoms in which one to nine hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine.
  • Representative examples of (C 1-4 )fluoroalkyl groups include fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, and 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl.
  • Preferred are (C 1 )fluoroalkyl groups such as fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, and trifluoromethyl.
  • R 2A represents "(C 1-4 )fluoroalkyl” or “(C 1 )fluoroalkyl” the term means preferably difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl, and more preferably difluoromethyl.
  • R 6 represents “(C 1 )fluoroalkyl” the term means preferably fluoromethyl, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl, and more preferably difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl.
  • cycloalkyl used alone or in combination, refers to a saturated carbocyclic ring containing three to six carbon atoms.
  • (C x-y )cycloalkyl refers to a cycloalkyl group as defined before containing x to y carbon atoms.
  • a (C 3-6 )cycloalkyl group contains from three to six carbon atoms.
  • Representative examples of cycloalkyl groups are cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, and cyclohexyl.
  • R 2A represents "(C 3-6 )cycloalkyl" the term means preferably cyclopropyl.
  • alkenyl refers to a straight or branched hydrocarbon chain containing two to five carbon atoms and one carbon-carbon double bond.
  • (C x-y )alkenyl refers to an alkenyl group as defined before containing x to y carbon atoms.
  • a (C 2 - 4 )alkenyl group contains from two to four carbon atoms.
  • Representative examples of “(C 2 - 4 )alkenyl” group are vinyl, prop-1-en-1-yl, prop-2-en-1-yl, but-2-en-1-yl, but-1-en-1-yl, and but-3-en-1-yl.
  • R 2A represents "(C 2-4 )alkenyl” the term means preferably prop-2-en-1-yl.
  • alkynyl used alone or in combination, refers to a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon group containing two to six (especially two to four) carbon atoms wherein said hydrocarbon group contains at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.
  • (C x-y )alkynyl (x and y each being an integer), refers to an alkynyl group as defined before, containing x to y carbon atoms. For example a (C 2-4 )alkynyl group contains from two to four carbon atoms.
  • (C 2 - 4 )alkynyl group are ethynyl, prop-1-yn-1-yl, prop-2-yn-1-yl, but-2-yn-1-yl, but-1-yn-1-yl, and but-3-yn-1-yl.
  • cyano refers to a group -CN.
  • (C x-y )cyanoalkyl (x and y each being an integer) refers to an alkyl group as defined before containing x to y carbon atoms wherein one hydrogen atom has been replaced by a cyano group.
  • Representative examples of "(C 1-2 )cyanoalkyl” are cyanomethyl and 2-cyanoethyl.
  • R 2A represents "(C 1-2 )cyanoalkyl” the term means preferably cyanomethyl.
  • -(SO 2 )- refers to a sulfonyl group and -C(O)- refers to a carbonyl group.
  • R 2A represents "(C 1-2 )alkyl-(SO 2 )-(C 1-2 )alkyl” the term means preferably methylsulfonyl-methyl and 2-methylsulfonylethyl.
  • R 2A represents "(C 1-2 )alkyl-S-(C 1-2 )alkyl” the term means preferably 2-methylthio- ethyl.
  • R 2A represents "H 2 N-C(O)-(C 1-2 )alkyl” the term means preferably 3-amino-3- oxopropyl; “(R N1 ) 2 N-(C 1-2 )alkyl” means preferably dimethylamino-methyl; and “(R N1 ) 2 N-C(O)- “ means preferably aminocarbonyl, and methylamino-carbonyl.
  • R 2A represents "(C 1-4 )hydroxyalkyl” the term means preferably hydroxymethyl.
  • heteroaryl used alone or in combination, refers to a heteroaryl-group as specifically defined which group may be unsubstituted or substituted as specifically defined.
  • “5-membered heteroaryl group containing one to four nitrogen atoms” are pyrrolyl, imidazolyl, pyrazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl. Said 5-membered heteroaryl groups are unsubstituted or substituted as explicitly defined.
  • L represents a direct bond, this means that the fragment represents: Whenever two substituents together represent a “bridge”, it is to be understood that the atoms to which said substituents are attached, are connected via a -CH 2 - or -CH 2 CH 2 - bridge as explicitly defined.
  • a second embodiment of the invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) according to embodiment 1), wherein X 1 represents CR X1 ; wherein R X1 represents hydrogen or halogen (especially fluoro); X 2 represents nitrogen or CH; X 3 represents nitrogen or CH; R 1 represents hydrogen; R X4 represents hydrogen, halogen (especially fluoro), or (C 1-4 )alkyl (especially methyl); R 2A represents hydrogen; (C 1-4 )alkyl; (C 1-4 )fluoroalkyl; (C 1-4 )hydroxyalkyl; or (C 1-4 )alkoxy-(C 1- 2 )alkyl; R 2B represents hydrogen; L represents a direct bond, -CH 2 -O-*, or-O-; wherein the asterisk indicates the bond which is linked to the aromatic carbon atom; R 3 represents hydrogen or fluoro; • R 4 represents hydrogen or (C 1-4 )alkyl (especially methyl); R 5 represents hydrogen, fluoro, or hydroxy; and
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) or 2), wherein R 2A represents hydrogen, (C 1-4 )alkyl, (C 1-4 )fluoroalkyl, (C 1- 4 )hydroxyalkyl, or methoxymethyl (and especially hydrogen, methyl, difluoromethyl, hydroxymethyl, or methoxymethyl); and R 2B represents hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds. 4) Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) or 2), wherein R 2A and R 2B both represent hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 4), wherein L represents a direct bond or -CH 2 -O-*, wherein the asterisk indicates the bond which is linked to the aromatic carbon atom; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds. 6) Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 4), wherein L represents a direct bond; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds. 7) Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 6), wherein R 3 represents hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 6), wherein R 3 represents fluoro; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds. 9) Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 8), wherein R X4 represents hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds. 10) Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 9), wherein R X1 represents hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 10), wherein R X2 represents hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • R X2 represents hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • R X3 represents hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 12), wherein X 1 represents CR X1 ; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 13), wherein X 2 represents CR X2 ; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 14), wherein X 3 represents CR X3 ; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • 16) Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 9), wherein each of X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 represents CH; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 4), wherein the fragment represents: • ; wherein R X4 represents hydrogen or halogen (especially fluoro); R 3 represents hydrogen or fluoro; and L represents a direct bond, -CH 2 -O-*, or-O-; wherein the asterisk indicates the bond which is linked to the aromatic carbon atom; or • ; wherein X 3 represents nitrogen or CH; R X4 represents hydrogen or (C 1-4 )alkyl (especially methyl); R 3 represents hydrogen or fluoro; and L represents -CH 2 -O-*, or-O-; wherein the asterisk indicates the bond which is linked to the aromatic carbon atom; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 12), wherein the fragment: represents: ; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 9), wherein the fragment: represents: ; wherein X 3 represents nitrogen or CH; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 4), wherein the fragment: represents a ring independently selected from the following groups A) to C): A) , , , , , ; or B) , , ; or C) ; wherein each of the above groups A), B) and C) form a particular sub-embodiment; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) according to any one of embodiments 1) to 3) and 5) to 20), wherein in case R 2B represents hydrogen and R 2A is different from hydrogen, the carbon atom to which said substituents R 2A and R 2B are attached is (R)-configurated; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) according to any one of embodiments 1) to 3) and 5) to 20), wherein in case R 2B represents hydrogen and R 2A is different from hydrogen, the carbon atom to which said substituents R 2A and R 2B are attached is (S)-configurated; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 22), wherein • R 4 represents hydrogen; R 5 represents hydrogen or fluoro; and R 6 represents fluoro or (C 1 )fluoroalkyl (especially fluoro, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl); or • R 4 and R 5 together represent a -CH 2 - bridge; and R 6 represents hydrogen, fluoro, or (C 1 )fluoroalkyl (especially difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl); and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 22), wherein • R 4 and R 5 represent hydrogen; and R 6 represents (C 1 )fluoroalkyl (especially difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl); or • R 4 and R 5 together represent a -CH 2 - bridge; and R 6 represents (C 1 )fluoroalkyl (especially difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl); and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 22), wherein R 4 represents hydrogen; R 5 represents hydrogen or fluoro; and R 6 represents fluoro, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • R 4 and R 5 represent hydrogen; and R 6 represents difluoromethyl; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 22), wherein R 4 and R 5 together represent a -CH 2 - bridge; and R 6 represents hydrogen, fluoro, difluoromethyl, or trifluoromethyl; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 22), wherein R 4 and R 5 together represent a -CH 2 - bridge; and R 6 represents difluoromethyl; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 22), wherein the fragment represents a fragment selected from the following groups A) to C): wherein each of the above groups A), B) and C) form a particular sub-embodiment; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 1) to 29), wherein R1 represents hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to embodiment 1), that are compounds of Formula (I BC ) wherein X 1 represents CR X1 ; wherein R X1 represents hydrogen or halogen (especially fluoro); X 2 represents nitrogen or CH; X 3 represents nitrogen or CH; R X4 represents hydrogen, halogen (especially fluoro), or (C1-4)alkyl (especially methyl); R 2A represents hydrogen, (C 1-4 )alkyl, (C 1-4 )fluoroalkyl, (C 1-4 )hydroxyalkyl, or (C 1-4 )alkoxy-(C 1- 2 )alkyl; L represents a direct bond, -CH 2 -O-*, or -O-; R 3 represents hydrogen or fluoro; R 6 represents hydrogen, fluoro, (C 1 )fluoroalkyl, or (C 1-4 )alkyl (especially methyl); and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • R X 1 represents
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to embodiment 31), wherein X 1 represents CH, X 2 represents CH, and X 3 represents CH; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 31) or 32), wherein R X4 represents hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • R 2A represents hydrogen, methyl, (C 1 )fluoroalkyl, or methoxymethyl; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 31) to 33), wherein R 2A represents hydrogen; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • R 2A represents hydrogen
  • L represents a direct bond
  • R 6 represents fluoro, (C 1 )fluoroalkyl, or methyl
  • Another embodiment of the invention relates to compounds according to any one of embodiments 31) to 36), wherein R 6 represents difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl; and to the salts (in particular pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds.
  • the invention thus, relates to compounds of the Formula (I) as defined in embodiment 1), and to such compounds further limited by the characteristics of any one of embodiments 2) to 38), under consideration of their respective dependencies; to pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; and to the use of such compounds as further described below.
  • Another embodiment relates to compounds of Formula (I) according to embodiment 1), which are selected from the following compounds: 1-(3,3-Difluoro-cyclobutyl)-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-benzyl)-urea; 1-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl-3-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-urea; 1-(3-Difluoromethyl-cyclobutyl)-3-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-urea; 1-(3-Fluoro-bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl)-3-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-urea; 1-(3-Difluoromethyl-bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl)-3-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-urea; 1-
  • a stereogenic center which is not specifically assigned, may be in absolute (R)- or absolute (S)-configuration; for example a compound listed as 1-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl-3-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)- ethyl]-urea may be (S)-1-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl-3-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-urea, (R)-1-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl-3-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-urea or any mixture thereof.
  • any reference to a compound of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) as defined in any one of embodiments 1) to 40) is to be understood as referring also to the salts (and especially the pharmaceutically acceptable salts) of such compounds, as appropriate and expedient.
  • pharmaceutically acceptable salts refers to salts that retain the desired biological activity of the subject compound and exhibit minimal undesired toxicological effects. Such salts include inorganic or organic acid and/or base addition salts depending on the presence of basic and/or acidic groups in the subject compound. For reference see for example ‘Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts.
  • the present invention also includes isotopically labelled, especially 2 H (deuterium) labelled compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )), which compounds are identical to the compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) except that one or more atoms have each been replaced by an atom having the same atomic number but an atomic mass different from the atomic mass usually found in nature.
  • Isotopically labelled, especially 2 H (deuterium) labelled compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) and salts thereof are within the scope of the present invention. Substitution of hydrogen with the heavier isotope 2 H (deuterium) may lead to greater metabolic stability, resulting e.g. in increased in-vivo half-life or reduced dosage requirements, or may lead to reduced inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes, resulting e.g. in an improved safety profile.
  • the compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) are not isotopically labelled, or they are labelled only with one or more deuterium atoms.
  • the compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) are not isotopically labelled at all.
  • Isotopically labelled compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) may be prepared in analogy to the methods described hereinafter, but using the appropriate isotopic variation of suitable reagents or starting materials. Whenever the word “between” is used to describe a numerical range, it is to be understood that the end points of the indicated range are explicitly included in the range.
  • a temperature range is described to be between 40 oC and 80 oC, this means that the end points 40 oC and 80 oC are included in the range; or if a variable is defined as being an integer between 1 and 4, this means that the variable is the integer 1, 2, 3, or 4.
  • the term “about” (or alternatively “around”) placed before a numerical value “X” refers in the current application to an interval extending from X minus 10% of X to X plus 10% of X, and preferably to an interval extending from X minus 5% of X to X plus 5% of X.
  • the term “about” (or alternatively “around”) placed before a temperature “Y” refers in the current application to an interval extending from the temperature Y minus 10oC to Y plus 10oC, and preferably to an interval extending from Y minus 5oC to Y plus 5oC.
  • room temperature refers to a temperature of about 25°C.
  • the compounds of formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) as defined in any one of embodiments 1) to 40) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be used as medicaments, e.g. in the form of pharmaceutical compositions for enteral (such as especially oral) or parenteral administration (including topical application or inhalation).
  • compositions can be effected in a manner which will be familiar to any person skilled in the art (see for example Remington, The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 21st Edition (2005), Part 5, “Pharmaceutical Manufacturing” [published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins]) by bringing the described compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, optionally in combination with other therapeutically valuable substances, into a galenical administration form together with suitable, non-toxic, inert, therapeutically compatible solid or liquid carrier materials and, if desired, usual pharmaceutical adjuvants.
  • the present invention also relates to a method for the prevention/prophylaxis or treatment of a disease or disorder mentioned herein comprising administering to a subject a pharmaceutically active amount of a compound of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) as defined in any one of embodiments 1) to 40).
  • a pharmaceutically active amount of a compound of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) as defined in any one of embodiments 1) to 40 for avoidance of any doubt, if compounds are described as useful for the prevention or treatment of certain diseases, such compounds are likewise suitable for use in the preparation of a medicament for the prevention or treatment of said diseases.
  • Another aspect of the invention concerns a method for the prevention/prophylaxis or the treatment of a disease or disorder as mentioned below in a patient comprising the administration to said patient of a pharmaceutically active amount of a compound of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) as defined in any one of embodiments 1) to 40) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
  • the compounds according to Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) as defined in any one of embodiments 1) to 40) are useful for the prevention/prophylaxis or treatment of diseases or disorders associated with KCNQ2, KCNQ3, KCNQ4, KCNQ5 and/or diseases or disorders associated with mutations in KCNQ2, KCNQ3, KCNQ4, KCNQ5.
  • Such diseases or disorders associated with KCNQ2, KCNQ3, KCNQ4, KCNQ5 and/or diseases or disorders associated with mutations in KCNQ2, KCNQ3, KCNQ4, KCNQ5 may in particular be defined as comprising epilepsy, myokymia, tinnitus, hearing disorders, neuropathic and inflammatory pain, psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, neurological disorders, and diseases affecting the smooth muscles (and especially epilepsy, myokymia, tinnitus, neuropathic and inflammatory pain, psychiatric disorders, and diseases affecting the smooth muscles).
  • Epilepsy may be defined as comprising: ⁇ epilepsy with focal onset seizures (with or without impaired awareness, with motor or nonmotor onset symptoms); ⁇ epilepsy with generalized seizures with motor onset symptoms; ⁇ epilepsy with unknown seizure onset; ⁇ epilepsy with traumatic brain injury-induced seizures; ⁇ neonatal epilepsy including early onset epileptic encephalopathy with or without neurodevelopmental impairment (such as Othahara syndrome, early infantile epileptic encephalopathy, early myoclonic encephalopathy, epilepsy with suppression-burst pattern, benign or self-limiting familial neonatal epilepsy); ⁇ infantile/childhood epilepsy syndromes including epilepsy with neurodevelopmental impairment, focal epilepsies of childhood and idiopathic epilepsy syndromes.
  • Diseases affecting the smooth muscles may be defined as comprising diseases affecting the visceral smooth muscles (such as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome and overactive bladder), diseases affecting the vascular smooth muscles (such as hypertension, and cerebral vasospasm), diseases affecting the airway smooth muscles (such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and hearing disorders.
  • Substance use disporders may be defined as comprising abuse of alcohol or psychostimulants.
  • Psychiatric disorders may be defined as comprising anxiety, schizophrenia, depression, mania, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder and autism spectrum disorders (and especially anxiety, schizophrenia, mania, and autism).
  • Neurological disorders may be defined as comprising diseases caused by changes in neurons and/or motoneurons excitability, (and notably amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, primary lateral sclerosis, pseudobulbar palsy, progressive bulbar palsy, progressive muscular atrophy, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Creutzfeld-Jacob disease, acute ischemic stroke).
  • compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) according to any one of embodiments 1) to 40), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are suitable for the prevention/prophylaxis or treatment of neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, depression, tinnitus and/or epilepsy (especially epilepsy with focal seizures, epilepsy with generalized seizures, epilepsy with unknown onset, neonatal epilepsy, and/or infantile/childhood epilepsy syndromes with or without neurodevelopmental decline).
  • compounds of Formula (I) (and/or Formula (I BC )) according to any one of embodiments 1) to 40), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are suitable for the prevention/prophylaxis or treatment of epilepsy; and especially of epilepsy with focal seizures, epilepsy with generalized seizures, epilepsy with unknown onset, neonatal epilepsy, and/or infantile/childhood epilepsy syndromes with or without neurodevelopmental decline.
  • Preparation of compounds of Formula (I) A further aspect of the invention is a process for the preparation of compounds of Formula (I).
  • the generic groups R 1 , R 2A , R 2B , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R X4 , X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , and L might be incompatible with the assembly illustrated in the schemes below and so will require the use of protecting groups (PG).
  • protecting groups is well known in the art (see for example “Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis", T.W. Greene, P.G.M. Wuts, Wiley-Interscience, 1999). For the purposes of this discussion, it will be assumed that such protecting groups as necessary are in place.
  • the compounds obtained may also be converted into salts, especially pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof in a manner known per se.
  • compounds of Formula I can be synthesised by treating an amine of Stucture 2 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) with an isocyanate 3 in the presence of a base such as NEt 3 or DIPEA in solvent such as DCM or MeCN.
  • an isocyanate of Structure 4 can be reacted with an amine 5 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) in the presence of a base such as NEt 3 or DIPEA in solvent such as DCM or MeCN to afford compounds of Formula I-A (Scheme 1).
  • Scheme 1 Scheme 1
  • an amine of Structure 2 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) is condensed with 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate in the presence of a base like NEt 3 or DIPEA to give a carbamate 6 (Scheme 2).
  • the carbamate 6 is then treated with an amine 5 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) in the presence of a base like NEt 3 in a solvent like THF to yield a compound of Formula I.
  • the sequence can also start by first reacting an amine 5 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) with 4-nitrophenyl chloroformate in the presence of a base like NEt 3 or DIPEA to give a carbamate 7 (Scheme 2).
  • the carbamate 7 is then treated with an amine of Structure 2 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) in the presence of a base like NEt 3 in solvent like THF to yield a compound of Formula I.
  • an amine of Structure 2 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) is activated with a reagent like CDI, triphosgene, or trifluoroethoxycarbonate and the activated intermediate is in-situ treated with an amine 5 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) to yield a compound of Formula I (Scheme 3).
  • an amine 5 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) can be activated with a reagent like CDI, triphosgene, or trifluoroethoxycarbonate and the activated intermediate is in-situ treated with an amine of Structure 2 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) to yield a compound of Formula I.
  • a reagent like CDI, triphosgene, or trifluoroethoxycarbonate and the activated intermediate is in-situ treated with an amine of Structure 2 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salts) to yield a compound of Formula I.
  • Amines of Structure 2-A or 2-B can be synthesized by taking advantage of the Ellman’s auxiliary (Scheme 4).
  • an aldehyde 8 is treated with tert-butanesulfinamide 9 in the presence of Ti(OEt) 4 to provide a tert-butanesulfinyl imine 10.
  • Compound 10 is then treated with a nucleophile such as a Grignard reagent 11 to afford a protected amine 12.
  • the tert- butanesulfinyl group is then cleaved under mild acidic conditions like HCl in MeOH to afford an amine of Structure 2-A (or the corresponding HCl salt).
  • imine 10 can be reduced with a reducing agent like NaBH 4 in MeOH to yield a protected amine 13.
  • the tert- butanesulfinyl group is then cleaved under mild acidic conditions like HCl in MeOH to afford an amine of Structure 2-B (or the corresponding HCl salt).
  • a ketone 14 can be reacted with tert-butanesulfinamide 9 in the presence of Ti(OEt) 4 to provide a tert- butanesulfinyl imine 15.
  • Compound 15 is then treated with a Grignard or lithiated reagent 16 to afford a protected amine 17.
  • the tert-butanesulfinyl group is then cleaved under mild acidic conditions like HCl in MeOH to afford an amine of Structure 2-C (or the corresponding HCl salt).
  • an amine of Structure 2-A can be synthesized using photoredox catalysis (Scheme 5).
  • a bromide 18 is reacted with a Boc-protected amino acid 19 in the presence of an iridium catalyst like [Ir ⁇ dF(CF 3 )ppy ⁇ 2 (dtbpy)]PF 6 and a nickel catalyst like NiCl 2 •glyme in a solvent like DMSO or DMA under blue LED irradiation to give a Boc-protected amine 20 (Science 2014, 345, 437-440).
  • nitrile 21 can be reduced using a nickel catalyst like NiCl 2 •6H 2 O and NaBH 4 in the presence of Boc 2 O to give a Boc-protected amine 22.
  • Deprotection under acidic conditions like TFA in DCM or HCl in dioxane yield an amine of Structure 2-B (or the corresponding HCl or TFA salt).
  • Nitrile 21 can also be converted to the corresponding ketones 23 using MeMgBr in a solvent like Et 2 O followed by an aqueous acidic treatment.
  • Ketone 23 can undergo a reductive amination in a solvent like MeOH with for example ammonium acetate and sodium cyanoborohydride to give an amine of Structure 2-A (where R 2A is methyl).
  • nitrile 21 can be treated first with MeMgBr in a solvent like 2- methyltetrahydrofuran and then with NaBH 4 to give an amine of Structure 2-A (where R 2A is methyl).
  • Nitrile 21 can also be subjected to a Kulinkovich reaction in Et 2 O using EtMgBr in the presence of a titanium salt like Ti(OiPr) 4 and borontrifluoride to give an amine of Structure 2-D.
  • nitrile 21 can react with a Boc-protected amino acid in the presence of cesium fluoride and an iridium catalyst like Ir(p-F(t-Bu)-ppy) 3 in a solvent like DMSO or DMA under blue LED irradiation to give a Boc-protected amine 24 (JACS 2014, 136, 5257- 5260).
  • the protecting group can then be cleaved under acidic conditions like TFA in DCM or HCl in dioxane to give an amine of Structure 2-E (or the corresponding HCl or TFA salt).
  • Nitriles 21-A are obtained through a S N Ar reaction between a chloro or fluoro nitrile 27 and an alcohol like trifluoroethanol in the presence of a base like sodium hydride in a solvent like THF (Scheme 8).
  • nitrile 27 can undergo a S N Ar reaction with an amine (or the corresponding HCl salt) in a solvent like NMP and a base like NEt 3 under microwave irradiation to yield a nitrile 21-B.
  • a cyanation between chloro or bromo derivative 28 and ZnCN 2 in the presence of a palladium catalyst like Pd 2 (dba) 3 and a ligand like dppf in a solvent like DMF give a nitrile 21.
  • An amine of Structure 2 can also be prepared by methods described in Scheme 9.
  • a Boc-protected amine 30 can be treated with an alkylating agent like alkyl bromide or alkyl iodide in the presence of a base or a silver salt like Ag 2 O to give a Boc-protected amine 31.
  • Boc-protecting group is then cleaved under acidic conditions like TFA in DCM or 4M HCl in dioxane to give an amine of Structure 2 (or the corresponding salt, like HCl or TFA salt).
  • an aldehyde 8 can undergo a reductive amination with an amine 32 in a solvent like DCM and in the presence of a reducing agent like NaBH(OAc) 3 and a base like DIPEA to give an amine of Structure 2, wherein R 2A and R 2B represent hydrogen.
  • LC-MS 2 Analytical UPLC on a Agilent Zorbax RRHD SB-Aq (2.1x50mm, 1.8um); detection at 210 nM and MS; Gradient of water/ 0.04% TFA (A) and MeCN (B).
  • the eluent flow rate was 0.8 mL/min and the characteristics of the eluting mixture proportion in function of the time t from start of the elution are summarized in the table below (a linear gradient being used between two consecutive time points): - LC-MS 3: Analytical UPLC on a Waters Xbridge (4.6x30mm, 2.5um); detection at 210 nM and MS; Gradient of water/ 0.04% TFA (A) and MeCN (B).
  • Preparative LC-MS methods used Preparative HPLC/MS purifications are performed on a Gilson HPLC system, equipped with a Gilson 215 autosampler, Gilson 333/334 pumps, Finnigan AQA MS detector system, and a Dionex UV detector, using a Waters Xbridge C18 or an Waters Atlantis column, with a linear gradient of water/formic acid 0.02% (A) and MeCN (B) (acidic conditions) or water/ammonia 0.02% (A) and MeCN (B) (basic conditions).
  • Preparative chiral SFC methods used: Preparative chiral SFC purifications are performed on a Sepiatec Prep SFC 360 system. Following parameters were used: Preparative chiral SFC 1: A ChiralPak IB column (30x250mm, 5um) was used. The modifier was iPrOH (12%), run for 5 min and at a flow rate of 160 mL/min. The following system settings were used: backpressure 100 bar, temperature pumphead 5 °C, temperature fraction module 20 °C, and temperature column department 40 °C.
  • Preparative chiral SFC 2 A ChiralPak IH column (30x250mm, 5um) was used. The modifier was EtOH (15%), run for 3.3 min and at a flow rate of 160 mL/min. The following system settings were used: backpressure 100 bar, temperature pumphead 5 °C, temperature fraction module 20 °C, and temperature column department 40 °C.
  • Preparative chiral SFC 3 A Regis (R,R)Whelk-O1column (30x250mm, 5um) was used. The modifier was EtOH (15%), run for 3.0 min and at a flow rate of 160 mL/min.
  • Preparative chiral SFC 4 A ChiralPak IB column (30x250mm, 5um) was used. The modifier was EtOH (10%), run for 5.5 min and at a flow rate of 160 mL/min. The following system settings were used: backpressure 100 bar, temperature pumphead 5 °C, temperature fraction module 20 °C, and temperature column department 40 °C.
  • Preparative chiral SFC 5 A Regis (R,R)Whelk-O1column (30x250mm, 5um) was used.
  • the modifier was MeOH (20%), run for 4.0 min and at a flow rate of 160 mL/min.
  • Preparative chiral SFC 6 A ChiralPak AD-H column (30x250mm, 5um) was used.
  • the modifier was EtOH (10%), run for 3.0 min and at a flow rate of 160 mL/min.
  • the following system settings were used: backpressure 100 bar, temperature pumphead 5 °C, temperature fraction module 20 °C, and temperature column department 40 °C.
  • NMR 1H-NMR spectra were recorded at rt with a Brucker NMR 500 spectrometer 1H (500 MHz) equipped with a Bruker's DCH cryoprobe. Chemical shifts are reported in ppm downfield from tetramethylsilane using residual solvent signals as internal reference. The multiplicity is described as singulet s, doublet d, triplet t, quadruplet q, hextet h, or multiplet m. Broad signals are indicated as br.
  • Example 1 1-(3,3-Difluoro-cyclobutyl)-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-benzyl)-urea
  • 3-(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine 18 mg, 0.1 mmol, 1.0 eq
  • MeCN MeCN
  • DIPEA 20 ⁇ L, 0.11 mmol, 1.1 eq
  • CDI 32 mg, 0.2 mmol, 2.0 eq
  • MeCN 0.2 mL
  • Example 2 1-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl-3-[1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-urea
  • 2-butan-1-amine hydrochloride 12 mg, 0.1 mmol, 1 eq
  • MeCN 0.5 mL
  • DIPEA 34 ⁇ L, 0.2 mmol, 2 eq
  • CDI 16 mg, 0.1 mmol, 1 eq
  • Example 3 to Example 5 were synthesized using the appropriate amine or amine salt (HCl or TFA) derivative and following the procedure described in Example 2.
  • Example 6 1-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl-3-[1-(3-trifluoromethoxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-urea
  • DIPEA 34 ⁇ L, 0.2 mmol, 2 eq
  • CDI 16 mg, 0.1 mmol, 1 eq
  • Example 7 to Example 8 were synthesized using the appropriate amine or amine salt (HCl or TFA) derivative and following the procedure described in Example 6. LC-MS data of Example 7 to Example 8 are listed in the table below. The LC-MS conditions used were LC- MS (1).
  • Example 9 1-[2,2-Difluoro-1-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-3-(3-hydroxy-3- trifluoromethyl-cyclobutyl)-urea
  • 3-amino-1-(trifluoromethyl)cyclobutan-1-ol (19 mg, 0.12 mmol, 1.5 eq) in MeCN (0.1 mL)
  • CDI 20 mg, 0.12 mmol, 1.5 eq
  • MeCN 0.2 mL
  • Example 10 1-(3,3-Difluoro-1-methyl-cyclobutyl)-3-[2,2-difluoro-1-(3-trifluoromethyl- phenyl)-ethyl]-urea
  • the product was synthesized using 3-3-difluoro-1-methylcyclobutanamine-hydrochloride and following the procedure described in Example 9.
  • LC-MS (1): tR 1.13min; [M+H] + : 373.3.
  • Example 11 1-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl-3-[1-(3-difluoromethoxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-urea
  • 1-(3-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl)ethan-1-amine hydrochloride 37 mg, 0.1 mmol, 1 eq
  • MeCN 0.5 mL
  • DIPEA 51 ⁇ L, 0.3 mmol, 3 eq
  • CDI 32 mg, 0.2 mmol, 2 eq
  • Example 12 1-(3-Difluoromethyl-bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl)-3-[2-hydroxy-1-(3- trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-ethyl]-urea
  • 3-(difluoromethyl)bicyclo[1.1.1]pentan-1-amine hydrochloride 25 mg, 0.15 mmol, 1.0 eq
  • MeCN MeCN
  • DIPEA 92 ⁇ L, 0.53 mmol, 3.5 eq
  • CDI 37 mg, 0.23 mmol, 1.5 eq
  • Example 13 to Example 16 were synthesized using the appropriate amine or amine salt (HCl or TFA) derivative and following the procedure described in Example 12. LC-MS data of Example 13 to Example 16 are listed in the table below. The LC-MS conditions used were LC-MS (1).
  • Example 17 1-(3-Fluoro-bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl)-3-[3-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethoxy)-benzyl]- urea
  • a solution of (3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phenyl)methanamine (14 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.0 eq) in MeCN (0.4 mL) was treated at rt with DIPEA (43 ⁇ L, 0.25 mmol, 3.5 eq) followed by CDI (12 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.05 eq) and the resulting mixture was stirred at 50 °C for 30 min.
  • Example 18 to Example 19 were synthesized using the appropriate amine or amine salt (HCl or TFA) derivative and following the procedure described in Example 17. LC-MS data of Example 18 to Example 19 are listed in the table below.
  • Example 20 1-(3-Difluoromethoxy-benzyl)-3-(3-fluoro-bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl)-urea
  • a solution of 3-(difluoromethoxy)benzylamine (12 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.0 eq) in MeCN (0.4 mL) was treated at rt with DIPEA (43 ⁇ L, 0.25 mmol, 3.5 eq) followed by CDI (12 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.05 eq) and the resulting mixture was stirred at 50 °C for 30 min.
  • Example 21 to Example 22 were synthesized using the appropriate amine or amine salt (HCl or TFA) derivative and following the procedure described in Example 20. LC-MS data of Example 21 to Example 22 are listed in the table below.
  • Example 23 1-(3-Trifluoromethoxy-benzyl)-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1- yl)-urea
  • a solution of 3-(trifluoromethoxy)benzylamine (22 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.0 eq) in MeCN (0.4 mL) was treated at rt with DIPEA (43 ⁇ L, 0.25 mmol, 3.5 eq) followed by CDI (12 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.05 eq) and the resulting mixture was stirred at 50 °C for 30 min.
  • Example 24 to Example 26 were synthesized using the appropriate amine or amine salt (HCl or TFA) derivative and following the procedure described in Example 23. LC-MS data of Example 24 to Example 26 are listed in the table below. The LC-MS conditions used were LC-MS (1).
  • Example 27 1-(3-Difluoromethyl-benzyl)-3-(3-difluoromethyl-cyclobutyl)-urea
  • [3-(difluoromethyl)phenyl]methanamine hydrochloride 14 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.0 eq
  • MeCN MeCN
  • DIPEA 43 ⁇ L, 0.25 mmol, 3.5 eq
  • CDI 17 mg, 0.11 mmol, 1.5 eq
  • the resulting mixture was stirred at 50 °C for 1.5 h.
  • 3- (difluoromethyl)cyclobutan-1-amine hydrochloride 11 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.0 eq was added.
  • Example 28 1-(3-Difluoromethyl-benzyl)-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl)- urea The product was synthesized using 3-(trifluoromethyl)bicyclo[1.1.1]pentan-1-amine hydrochloride and following the procedure described in Example 27.
  • Example 30 1-(2-Trifluoromethoxy-pyridin-4-ylmethyl)-3-(3-trifluoromethyl- bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl)-urea
  • the product was synthesized using 3-(trifluoromethyl)bicyclo[1.1.1]pentan-1-amine hydrochloride and following the procedure described in Example 29.
  • LC-MS (1): t R 1.06min; [M+H] + : 370.2.
  • Example 31 ( ⁇ )-1-(3-Difluoromethyl-cyclobutyl)-3- ⁇ 2-methoxy-1-[2-(2,2,2-trifluoro- ethoxy)-pyridin-4-yl]-ethyl ⁇ -urea
  • ( ⁇ )-2-methoxy-1-(2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyridin-4-yl)ethan-1-amine hydrochloride (30 mg, 0.11 mmol, 1.0 eq) in MeCN (0.6 mL)
  • DIPEA 64 ⁇ L, 0.37 mmol, 3.5 eq
  • CDI 18 mg, 0.11 mmol, 1.05 eq
  • Example 32 ( ⁇ )-1- ⁇ 2-Methoxy-1-[2-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethoxy)-pyridin-4-yl]-ethyl ⁇ -3-(3- trifluoromethyl-cyclobutyl)-urea
  • the product was synthesized using 3-(trifluoromethyl)cyclobutan-1-amine hydrochloride and following the procedure described in Example 31.
  • LC-MS (1): t R 1.07min; [M+H] + : 416.3.
  • Example 33 ( ⁇ )-1-[1-(2-Difluoromethoxy-pyridin-4-yl)-ethyl]-3-(3-difluoromethyl- cyclobutyl)-urea
  • ( ⁇ )-1-(2-(difluoromethoxy)pyridin-4-yl)ethan-1-amine 22 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.0 eq
  • MeCN MeCN
  • DIPEA 43 mL, 0.245 mmol, 3.5 eq
  • CDI (12 mg, 0.07 mmol, 1.05 eq
  • Example 34 ( ⁇ )-1- ⁇ 1-[2-Methyl-6-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethoxy)-pyrimidin-4-yl]-ethyl ⁇ -3-(3- trifluoromethyl-bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl)-urea
  • 3-(trifluoromethyl)bicyclo[1.1.1]pentan-1-amine hydrochloride 126 mg, 0.64 mmol, 1.2 eq
  • MeCN 2 mL
  • DIPEA 0.186 mL, 1.06 mmol, 2.0 eq
  • CDI 103 mg, 0.638 mmol, 1.2 eq
  • Example 35 1-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-benzyl)-urea
  • NEt 3 45 ⁇ L, 0.32 mmol, 4 eq
  • 4-nitrophenyl (3- (trifluoromethyl)benzyl)carbamate 27 mg, 0.08 mmol, 1 eq
  • Example 36 to Example 42 were synthesized using the appropriate amine or amine salt (HCl or TFA) derivative and following the procedure described in Example 35. LC-MS data of Example 36 to Example 42 are listed in the table below. The LC-MS conditions used were LC-MS (1).
  • Example 43 1-Bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl-3-[2-(2,2,2-trifluoro-ethoxy)-pyridin-4-ylmethyl]- urea
  • NEt 3 45 ⁇ L, 0.32 mmol, 4 eq
  • 4-nitrophenyl ((2-(2,2,2- trifluoroethoxy)pyridin-4-yl)methyl)carbamate (30 mg, 0.08 mmol, 1 eq) were added in sequence.
  • the resulting mixture was stirred at rt overnight.
  • the mixture was concentrated in vacuo.
  • Example 44 to Example 46 were synthesized using the appropriate amine or amine salt (HCl or TFA) derivative and following the procedure described in Example 43. LC-MS data of Example 44 to Example 46 are listed in the table below. The LC-MS conditions used were LC-MS (1).
  • Example 47 1-(3-Difluoromethyl-bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl)-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-benzyl)- urea
  • 3-(difluoromethyl)bicyclo[1.1.1]pentan-1-amine hydrochloride 125 mg, 0.74 mmol, 1 eq
  • NEt 3 0.31 mL, 2.21 mmol, 3 eq
  • 1- (isocyanatomethyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzene 156 mg, 0.74 mmol, 1 eq
  • Example 48 1-Bicyclo[2.1.1]hex-1-yl-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-benzyl)-urea
  • a solution of bicyclo[2.1.1]hexan-1-amine hydrochloride (27 mg, 0.2 mmol, 1.0 eq) in MeCN (0.7 mL) DIPEA (87 ⁇ L, 0.5 mmol, 2.5 eq) and 1-(isocyanatomethyl)-3- (trifluoromethyl)benzene (64 mg, 0.3 mmol, 1.5 eq) were added in sequence.
  • the reaction mixture was stirred at rt overnight.
  • the mixture was purified by prep.
  • Example 52 1-(3-(difluoromethyl)cyclobutyl)-3-(3-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)urea (stereoisomer 1) and Example 53: 1-(3-(difluoromethyl)cyclobutyl)-3-(3- (trifluoromethyl)benzyl)urea (stereoisomer 2)
  • Example 52 1-(3-(difluoromethyl)cyclobutyl)-3-(3- (trifluoromethyl)benzyl)urea
  • the stereochemistry at the benzylic position has been assigned in analogy to Example 190 of PCT/EP2021/060918, meaning that the more active isomer was assumed to have (S)-configuration.
  • Example 55 1-(3-(difluoromethyl)cyclobutyl)-3-((2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyridin-4- yl)methyl)urea (stereoisomer 1) and Example 56: 1-(3-(difluoromethyl)cyclobutyl)-3-((2- (2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyridin-4-yl)methyl)urea (stereoisomer 2)
  • Example 57 1-(3-(difluoromethyl)cyclobutyl)-3-((S)-1-(3- (trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)ethyl)urea (stereoisomer 1) and Example 58: 1-(3- (difluoromethyl)cyclobutyl)-3-((S)-1-(3-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)ethyl)urea (stereoisomer 2)
  • Step 2 ( ⁇ ,E)-2-methyl-N-(3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzylidene)propane-2-sulfinamide
  • 3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzaldehyde (5.01 g, 24.5 mmol, 1 eq)
  • ( ⁇ )-2-methyl- 2-propanesulfinamide (2.98 g, 24.5 mmol, 1 eq)
  • Ti(OEt) 4 (10.3 mL, 49.1 mmol, 2 eq) in THF (42 mL) was stirred at rt for 3 d.
  • Step 3 ( ⁇ )-2-methyl-N-(3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzyl)propane-2-sulfinamide
  • ( ⁇ ,E)-2-methyl-N-(3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzylidene)propane-2- sulfinamide 6.85 g, 22.3 mmol, 1 eq
  • MeOH 78 mL
  • DCM 162 mL
  • NaBH 4 5.06 g, 134 mmol, 6 eq
  • Step 3 (2-(trifluoromethoxy)pyridin-4-yl)methanamine hydrochloride To an ice-cooled solution of ( ⁇ )-2-methyl-N-((2-(trifluoromethoxy)pyridin-4- yl)methyl)propane-2-sulfinamide (279 mg, 0.94 mmol, 1 eq) in MeOH (20 mL), 4N HCl in dioxane (1.2 mL, 4.71 mmol, 5 eq) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred at 0 °C for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo. The product was used crude for the next step.
  • Step 2 ( ⁇ )-2-methoxy-1-(2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyridin-4-yl)ethan-1-amine hydrochloride
  • tert-butyl ( ⁇ )-(2-methoxy-1-(2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyridin-4- yl)ethyl)carbamate 600 mg, 1.71 mmol, 1 eq
  • 4N HCl in dioxane (6.85 mL, 27.4 mmol, 16 eq) was stirred at rt overnight.
  • the mixture was concentrated in vacuo to afford a white solid.
  • the product was used without further purification.
  • the resulting mixture was quenched with 1M HCl aq. soln. (15 mL) and the resulting mixture was stirred at rt for 1 h.
  • the reaction mixture was diluted with sat. aq. NaHCO 3 soln. and EtOAc.
  • the layers were separated and the aq. phase was extracted with EtOAc (1x 30 mL).
  • the comb. org. phases were washed with sat. aq. NaCl soln. (1 x 20 mL), dried over MgSO 4 , and concentrated in vacuo.
  • Step 2 ( ⁇ )-1-(2-(difluoromethoxy)pyridin-4-yl)ethan-1-amine
  • a solution of 1-(2-(difluoromethoxy)pyridin-4-yl)ethan-1-one (610 mg, 3.26 mmol, 1 eq) in MeOH (100 mL) ammonium acetate (5.03 g, 65.2 mmol, 20 eq) and sodium cyanoborohydride (410 mg, 6.52 mmol, 2 eq) were added in sequence.
  • the resulting mixture was stirred at rt overnight.
  • the resulting mixture was concentrated in vacuo.
  • the residue was diluted with sat. aq. NaHCO 3 soln. and DCM.
  • Step 2 1-(2-methyl-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)ethan-1-one
  • 2-methyl-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyrimidine-4-carbonitrile 945 mg, 4.35 mmol, 1.0 eq
  • 3M methylmagnesium bromide solution in diethyl ether 9.3 mL, 27.8 mmol, 6.4 eq
  • the resulting mixture was stirred at rt for 1 hour.
  • the resulting mixture was cooled to 0 °C and slowly quenched with 10% acetic acid aq. soln. (15 mL).
  • Step 3 ( ⁇ )-1-(2-methyl-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)ethan-1-amine
  • 1-(2-methyl-6-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)ethan-1-one (271 mg, 1.08 mmol, 1 eq) in MeOH (31 mL)
  • ammonium acetate (1.66 g, 21.5 mmol, 20 eq)
  • sodium cyanoborohydride 142 mg, 2.15 mmol, 2 eq
  • BIOLOGICAL ASSAYS A) Rat oscillation assay Assay principle This assay is a functional phenotypic assay designed to mimic epileptic seizures using primary neuronal cultures from embryonic rat brains, which form a functional neuronal network that generate synchronized intracellular calcium concentration oscillations when cultured at high density in 384-well plate. The epileptic phenotype is induced by incubating the neurons in magnesium-free assay buffer, that results in increased probability of NMDA receptor activation, leading to an increased frequency and amplitude of intracellular calcium oscillations.
  • Neuronal cultures Animal care followed standard procedures in accordance with swiss institutional guidelines. Dissociated neuronal cultures were obtained from cerebral cortices of embryonic Wistar rats at embryonic stage E18 (Charles River). The uterine horns were removed by caesarian surgery from deeply anesthetized rats (Isofurane) and sacrificed by decapitation. The embryos were decapitated by closing forceps. The brains were isolated and dissected one by one in ice-cold PBS (Life Technologies) under optical control using a binocular. Meninges, olfactory bulbs, and basal ganglia were removed.
  • Cortical hemispheres (still including the hippocampus) were cut in small pieces with tweezers and placed on ice in pre- chilled Hibernate-E medium (Life technology). The hemispheres were then incubated in 10 mL of Hibernate-E containing 15 U/mL papain (Worthington) for 25 min at 30 °C with gentle mixing every 10 min. Genomic DNA was then digested by prolonging the incubation during 10 min at 37°C in presence of 4 U/mL rDNase I (Ambion).
  • the obtained suspension was then centrifuged at 800 g for 5 min and the cell pellet was resuspended in 2 mL Hibernate-E and gently dissociated by pipetting up and down 10 times with a plastic Pasteur pipette resulting in a homogenous cell suspension.
  • This suspension was immediately filtered through a 70 ⁇ m cell strainer (MACS® SmartStrainer, Miltenyi), collected in 10 mL Hibernate-E and centrifuged at 800 g for 5 min.
  • the cell pellet was resuspended in Neurobasal medium, supplemented with 2% B-27, 0.5 mM Glutamax-I, 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 ⁇ g/mL streptomycin (Life Technologies) and diluted at the final concentration of 300’000 cells/mL.
  • 384-well plates were coated with 25 ⁇ L/well of 0.1% poly-L-lysine solution (Sigma), incubated overnight at 37°C, washed two times with sterile distilled water and allowed to dry at room temperature for >2 h.
  • Protocol rat oscillation assay Neurons seeded in the assay plates were washed with Hank’s balanced salt solution (HBSS) devoid of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ , supplemented with 20 mM HEPES (Life Technologies) and 2 mM CaCl 2 (Sigma), pH 7.4 (hereafter called Assay buffer) using a Biotek EL406 plate washer.
  • HBSS Hank’s balanced salt solution
  • Neurons were loaded with 1 ⁇ M Fluo-8 AM in Assay buffer for 15 min at 37°C, 5% CO 2 . Buffer containing dye was then removed and the assay plates were washed 3 times with Assay buffer using the Biotek EL406 washer and allowed to equilibrate in 50 ⁇ L of assay buffer at room temperature for 25 min. The kinetic curves of fluorescence fluctuations acquired once per second using FLIPR ® Tetra reflect neuronal calcium oscillations. Recording was performed in two phases separated by 20 min resulting in two acquisitions: “Acute” and “20min”. In the “Acute” acquisition phase, fluorescence was recorded over a period of 500 sec in presence or absence of the K V 7 channel blocker XE-991.
  • Test compounds were added 250 sec after acquisition start. 20 min after compound addition, calcium oscillations were recorded again for 400 sec, corresponding to the “20min” acquisition phase.
  • Stock solutions of test compounds were prepared at a concentration of 10 mM in DMSO (Sigma).5-fold serial dilutions of the compounds were first prepared in DMSO. Compounds were then diluted in Assay buffer supplemented with 0.1% fatty-acid free bovine serum albumin (Sigma), reaching final compound concentrations of 128 pM to 10 ⁇ M on the neurons.
  • the K V 7 channel blocker XE-991 (Biotrend) was directly diluted in Assay buffer containing 0.1% fatty-acid free bovine serum albumin, yielding a final concentration of 10 ⁇ M in the assay plate.
  • Time-sequence data were exported using Screenworks ® software (Molecular Devices) and converted with Orbit software (Idorsia Pharmaceuticals ltd.) to a format compatible with proprietary analysis softwares.
  • Orbit software Idorsia Pharmaceuticals ltd.
  • a high-pass filter was then applied to flatten the signal using HTStudio (Idorsia Pharmaceuticals ltd.) to allow calculations of areas under the curve (AUC) for all time-point and compound concentrations.
  • HTStudio HTStudio
  • AUC areas under the curve
  • signal flattening and IC 50 calculations can be achieved using commercially available softwares such as Igor Pro ® from Wave Metric (“moving window” filter) and Prism 7.0 from GraphPad, respectively.
  • IC 50 acute the ratio of AUC fluorescence before and after compound addition was used to generate concentration-response curve (inhibition) using non-linear regression analysis with a 4-parameter fitting.
  • IC 50 20min the AUC of fluorescence measured 20 min after compounds addition was used to generate concentration-response curve (inhibition) using non-linear regression analysis with a 4-parameter fitting.
  • IC 50 value corresponds to the compound concentration that inhibits 50% of the neuronal oscillations in the presence of vehicle (top plateau).
  • HEK293 cells were stably transfected with the appropriate ion channel cDNA(s) (human KCNQ2 and KCNQ3 genes). Cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium / Nutrient mixture F-12 (D-MEM/F-12) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 U/mL penicillin G sodium, 100 ⁇ g/mL streptomycin sulfate and selection antibiotics.
  • D-MEM/F-12 Modified Eagle Medium / Nutrient mixture F-12
  • FLIPR Test Procedure For FLIPR assay, cells were plated in 384-well black clear-bottomed microtiter plates (BD Biocoat Poly-D-Lysine Multiwell Cell Culture Plate) at 15’000 to 30’000 cells per well. Cells were incubated at 37 oC overnight or until cells reached sufficient density in the wells (near confluent monolayer) to use in fluorescence assays. Fluorescence changes triggered by agonist application were recorded using FLIPR® Tetra and displayed with Screenworks® 4.2 software (Molecular Devices). Assays were performed with the FLIPR potassium assay kit (Molecular Devices) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Dye- loading: Growth media was removed and replaced with 20 ⁇ L of dye loading buffer for 60 min at room temperature.
  • test compounds responses were expressed as % of maximum response of the control compound Flupirtine (Sigma-Aldrich), which was tested at concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 100 ⁇ M.
  • Concentration-response data were fitted to a Hill equation. Non-linear least squares fits were made assuming a simple binding model. If appropriate, fits were weighted by the standard deviation. No assumptions about the fit parameters were made; the fit parameters were determined by the algorithm. Table 2.
  • K V 7.2/7.3 activation III. PHARMACOLOGICAL EXPERIMENTS Formulation and administration. Compounds were formulated in a 10 % polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) / 90 % aqueous solution of 0.5 % methylcellulose (MC 0.5 %).
  • Audiogenic seizure-sensitive mouse model of generalized convulsive seizures 1. Procedure: Following two days of acclimatisation, auditory seizures are induced in male juvenile DBA/2J mice (22-24 days old; Janvier Labs, France). Each mouse is placed individually in the exposure chamber, an hemispheric acrylic glass dome (diameter: 50 cm) within a sound-attenuated box. The soundattenuated box is equipped with two house lights and a camera system (Fire-I from Unibrain) in order to observe and record the behavioral seizure response.
  • the stimulus After 60 seconds of habituation, the stimulus, a mixed frequency tone of 15-20 kHz at 110 dB (SASLab Lite, Avisoft Bioacoustics), is played from a speaker that is placed on the top center of the dome. The stimulus is applied for 60 seconds maximum or until the mouse shows tonic extension of the hind limbs. Seizures are classified as following: stage 0, normal behavior; stage 1, wild running; stage 2, generalized clonus; stage 3, tonic extension of the hind limbs. 2. Compounds testing: Acute compound effects on audiogenic generalized convulsive seizures are evaluated in independent groups of 8-10 mice randomly assigned. Following oral administration of compound or vehicle, the maximum seizure stage during sound exposure is assessed. Compounds are given 1 hour before exposure to the stimulus.
  • SASLab Lite Avisoft Bioacoustics
  • Amygdala-kindling rat model 1. Procedure: Adult male Wistar rats (Harlan Laboratories, Netherlands, or Charles Rivers, Germany; body weight 300-350g) were stereotaxically implanted with twisted bipolar plastic- coated stainless steel electrode (MS333-2-BIU 10mm, Plastics One) into the right basolateral amygdala under isoflurane anesthesia.
  • AP anteriorposterior
  • ML medio-lateral
  • DV dorso-ventral
  • each rat was exposed once daily to an electrical stimulation and the behavioral symptoms of the evoked seizure were observed and classified according to the modified Racine scale (stage 0, arrest, wet dog shakes, normal behaviour; stage 1, facial twitches: nose, lips, eyes; stage 2, chewing, head nodding; stage 3, forelimb clonus; stage 4, rearing, falling on forelimbs; stage 5, rearing, falling on side or back, rolling).
  • the electrical stimulus consists of a 1s-train of 50 Hz square-wave biphasic pulses of 1-ms duration at an intensity of 400 ⁇ A (suprathreshold intensity). The stimulus was applied daily until each rat was fully kindled, i.e.
  • drug testing included determination of the afterdischarge threshold (the minimal stimulation intensity necessary to evoke an afterdischarge (electroencephalographically measured neuronal hyper-synchronous activity with an amplitude 2-times higher than baseline amplitude and a frequency of ⁇ 1 Hz) of at least 3sec duration) and monitoring electroencephalographic and behavioral correlates of the evoked seizure at ADT (afterdischarge threshold), including AD duration and SS, by a experimenter blind to treatment assignment.
  • the afterdischarge threshold the minimal stimulation intensity necessary to evoke an afterdischarge (electroencephalographically measured neuronal hyper-synchronous activity with an amplitude 2-times higher than baseline amplitude and a frequency of ⁇ 1 Hz) of at least 3sec duration
  • monitoring electroencephalographic and behavioral correlates of the evoked seizure at ADT afterdischarge threshold

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EP3366683A1 (en) 2017-02-28 2018-08-29 Acousia Therapeutics GmbH Cyclic amides, acteamides and ureas useful as potassium channel openers
MD3755684T2 (ro) 2018-02-20 2023-11-30 H Lundbeck As Derivați de alcool ca deschizători ai canalelor de potasiu Kv7
SI3921030T1 (sl) 2019-02-06 2024-03-29 Eli Lilly And Company Derivati 1-((2-(2,2,2-trifluoroetoksi)piridin-4-il)metil)sečnine kot ojačevalci kcnq

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US20230303486A1 (en) 2023-09-28
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MX2022016263A (es) 2023-02-09
AR122739A1 (es) 2022-10-05
JP2023531500A (ja) 2023-07-24
CN115702141A (zh) 2023-02-14
AU2021295422A1 (en) 2023-02-23
CA3183298A1 (en) 2021-12-30

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